HITTING 40 might seem the ideal age to start covering up – but most British women are happy to show off their legs as they grow older, it was revealed last night.

Even though they realise they can no longer cut it in skinny jeans and racy tops, 75 per cent believe miniskirts are acceptable, right up until the age of 42.

These women of a certain age have a new-found confidence thanks to Hollywood stars like Jennifer Aniston and Halle Berry who dare to bare their toned legs despite being well into their 40s.

However, nearly three-quarters of British women, roughly 22.5 million, admit they own clothes that don’t suit them.

Asked why they cling on to clothes they never wear, half said they were waiting to lose weight so they could fit into them again.

One man in four agrees their partner wears awful outfits, with “unflattering, too tight and frumpy” the most frequent complaints.

We’re all guilty of hanging on to clothes we’ve fallen out of love with

BHF retail director Mike Taylor

But men find it difficult to tell their wives and girlfriends, with 65 per cent saying it would make their loved one cry. Twentyfive per cent admitted to keeping quiet, whatever they thought.

Shorts, low-cut tops, skinny jeans and leggings are the items of clothing British women are most reluctant to throw out. But holding on to clothes you will never wear does more harm than good, according to psychologists.

They say donating clothes to charity relieves the reluctance to part with favourite items because it gives them a new lease of life.

The survey of women’s wardrobes was carried out for the British Heart Foundation, which is holding an amnesty for unwanted clothes called the Great British Bag-athon.

BHF retail director Mike Taylor said: “We’re all guilty of hanging on to clothes we’ve fallen out of love with, which is why this September BHF shops are encouraging everyone to fill a bag and donate items that we know we’ll never wear again. Just one bag of unwanted items is worth £20 in the fight against heart disease, which makes a real difference.”